250 REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



12. Memonmdiiin l)y Earl Hrowiilow (Dcer-brccdin^ij;). * 



13. Meiiiorandiiiii by Professor Flower, C. B. 



14. Letter Ironi Caii>tain David Gray, Peterhead. 



15. Mr. W. Palmer, on the Killing of Seals upon tlie Pribyloff Islands. 



16. Extract from the Melbourne "Argus," December 17 1887, (referred to by Mr. 



Cha])man). 



17. Extracts from Pamphlet by Mr. A. W. Scott on the Fur-seals of the Southern 



Hemisphere, 1873. 



1. — Letter from the Bchrbig Sea Commissioners to Her Britannic Majesty's Conaul-General 



at Sliani/hue.* 



GovEKNMKNT HousE, Ottawa, Noremhcr 16, 1S91. 

 Sih: Having been appointed British Commissioners to investigate the facts and 

 conditions of fur-seal life and the sealing industry in the North Pacific Ocean, we 

 find that our in(iuiry would be much assisted if you could furnish us with informa- 

 tion on the following points: 



1. As to the names and number of vessels sailing from Chinese ports in any given 

 years, which have taken fur-seal at sea or on the rookeries, together with the num- 

 ber of skins taken and other particulars, such as the nationalitj' of the vessels, and 

 the uumbt^rs of their crews. 



2. Any information as to the number of fur-seal skins landed at Shaughae, and the 

 market prices of the same in any given years. 



[t3. Any inibrnuition on, or names of authorities for, the very considerable trade 

 in fur-seal skins, both from the North Pacific and the South Seas, which appears to 

 have been carried on at Canton during the earlier years of the present century.] 



We should be much obliged if the above information could be forwarded to us as 

 soon as possible, aildressed to the Behriug Sea. Commission, care of his Excellency 

 the Governor-General, Ottawa, Canada. 

 We have, &c. 



(Signed) Gkorge Baden Powell. 

 George M. Dawson. 



2. — L( tier from Her lirilainiic Majvfitifs Consul at San Francisco to the Bihrinff Sea 



Conunissioners. 



San Fkancisco, January 5, 1S92. 



Sir: I am in receipt of your despatch, dated Foreign Oflice, the 10th ultimo, wish- 

 ing me to obtain for the Behring Sea Commissioners the forms of clearance issued at 

 the (histomhouse at San Francisco for vesscds ])roceeding on whaling, fishing, and 

 sealing voyages to the North Pacific, including Behring Sea. 



The precise phrases used in clearing vessels at tliis port upon these voyages is 

 shown on tin; inclosed forms of clearance obtained from the Custom-house. Those 

 that go hunting and fishing procure a clearance, which states that they are "bound 

 for hunting and fishing voyage, having on board stores," and those that go whaling 

 are cleared "for whaling voyage, having on board stores." I am informed by the 

 Deputy Collector of Customs, who clears all vessels here, that these are tiie only 

 two forms of clearance given, and that no sealing or trading clause is inserted in such 

 forms. He says no vessels are cleared for Behriug Sea. The steamers of the Alaska 

 Conuiiercial Company clear for Uualaska, and receive permission from the Collector 

 of Customs there to proceed to the Islands of St. George and St. Paul. 



As regards a statement of the number of vessels clearing from this port f(U- fishing 

 and hunting, I inclose a Memorandum which I have inocured from the Custom house 

 at this port. 



I am, &c. (Signed) Denis Donoiioe. 



180 3. — Letter from Her Britannic Majesty's Consul- General, Shanghae, to the Behring 



Sea Commissioners. 



Shanghae, January S, 1S93. 



Gentlemen: In reply to your letter of the 16th November last, just received, ask- 

 ing for cert.aiu inforuuition with regard to vessels clearing from Chinese ports which 

 have taken fur-seal, I have the honour to inform yon that, as far as I can learn, no 

 vessels have cleared for that purpose from this country, though vessels registered 

 here may possibly have left for Yokohama with the ultimate intention of engaging 



* Sent also to Her Majesty's Cousuls-Geueral at Honolulu and Canton, 

 t To Canton only. 



